FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 25, 2026

Media Contact: Cheyenne Ketter – Franklin
Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
(716) 424-0555 ext. 2322
cketter-franklin@elmwoodvillageschool.org

SCHOOL ANNOUNCES PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT CAMPUS NEAR ALLENTOWN:
Elmwood Village Charter Schools New Playground to Modernize Recess Space

(Buffalo, NY) – Elmwood Village Charter Schools (EVCS) is excited to announce that construction of the Days Park Campus new playground will begin this week in collaboration with local company NeXXus Recreation. 

The project will be an entire reconstruction of the playground, from excavation and replacement of baseline substrate for a longer lasting floor to the installation of each individual play piece and game. Additionally, the entire process has been planned with the historic integrity and safety of the Days Park neighborhood and school building as a priority, ensuring that the footprint of the new playground will stay within the existing parameters of the space.

“We are incredibly excited about the installation of our new playground,” said Katie Istas, Principal of the EVCS Days Park Campus. “It will be more accessible and modern to meet the current needs and recess time of our students. Given our small, urban footprint, the playground has been designed to maximize the vertical space, as well, while maintaining the beautiful tree canopy which provides ample shade and cover in the elements. As a school, we value outdoor recess as a critical part of child development and are always looking for ways to maximize this time outside.”

The project will take approximately 4 weeks to complete, giving students the perfect opportunity to enjoy the playground early in the 2026-2027 school year. Outside of school hours, as with the current playground, this new installation will be available to the general public and community partners to enjoy. 

During construction, students will participate in recess using a fenced in greenspace at the front of the campus as well as the historic Frederick Law Olmsted Days Park across the street from the school building.

This new playground constitutes as part one of a two part playground upgrade for EVCS, with a future project planned at the Hertel Campus as well. Members of the media can access renderings of the playground plan for the Days Park Campus by clicking this link. 

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About Elmwood Village Charter Schools

Elmwood Village Charter Schools is a vibrant school community in the city of Buffalo that teaches 850 students by addressing their academic and social-emotional needs. Over 20 years ago, EVCS began as one parent’s vision of a small community school that would address the individual learning needs of its students.

EVCS provides a stimulating and engaging learning environment that recognizes student capability, fosters their connectedness to their immediate and broader communities, and offers them ways to contribute to school life. EVCS believes that all students can and will learn at high levels when provided with the right learning conditions.

Learn more at www.evcsbuffalo.org.

Find us on social media:  Instagram | LinkedIn | Days Park Campus  | Hertel Campus 

Non-Discrimination Statement

A charter school shall not discriminate against or limit the admission of any student on any unlawful basis, including on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, disability, intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, race, creed, gender, religion or ancestry. A school may not require any action by a student or family (such as an admissions test, interview, essay, attendance at an information session, etc.) in order for an applicant to either receive or submit an application for admission to that school.